India team for South Africa tour: As it selects the India team for the South Africa tour, the BCCI selection committee will have to make big decisions. The scrutiny is on Virat Kohli’s ODI captaincy and Ajinkya Rahane’s Test vice-captaincy.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- India will visit South Africa beginning December 26 for 3 Tests as well as 3 ODIs
- Since Virat Kohli quit his leadership role in T20Is, the ODI captaincy has been a hot topic of discussion
- Ajinkya Rahane is the Indian Test team’s vice-captain.
The India tour of South Africa was cut short by the Omicron variant of Covid-19. However, this has not reduced the problems faced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India selection committee.
Since making questionable decisions ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021, selectors have been scrutinized, and now they are back in the spotlight ahead of the selection of the South Africa team.
The board will make some big decisions, whether Virat Kohli, the current India Test and ODI skipper, in the 50-over format or Ajinkya Rahane as vice-captaincy in the most extended form.
After the second Test against New Zealand, the selectors will announce the India squad to tour the Rainbow nation. As the Chetan Sharma-led selection panel meets to select the team, some big decisions will be made.
Will Virat Sharma continue to be the ODI skipper?
Rohit Sharma’s new ODI captain has been circulating since Kohli’s resignation as India’s T20I skipper. Different captains are not uncommon for other teams in the T20I or ODI formats.
He has officially replaced Rohit in the shortest format. However, some believe that Rohit could be the next captain in the ODI format.
The India tour of South Africa will also include ODIs, so the selectors are likely to discuss the matter. However, it is unlikely that a change of ODI captaincy will be made before the series.
According to a source at the BCCI, Virat is unlikely to keep his ODI captaincy. However, ODI isn’t vital this year, so one could think about delaying the decision.” A senior BCCI source told PTI.
He said, “But the counter-argument was that why would you want to have different ideas for two formats? If the majority of people responsible for making decisions feel that Rohit will be the man in the future and will have the time to prepare a group for the 2023 event,”
Rohit Sharma will replace Ajinkya Rahane as Test vice-captain.
Ajinkya Rahane could not play in the Mumbai Test due to a hamstring injury. However, many predicted the change considering how Shreyas Iyer played in the Kanpur Test.
Rahane could be in serious trouble if Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are both expected to be drafted into India’s Test team for South Africa.
Rahane won’t be the mainstay of the playing XI, so a new vice-captain for Test is likely to be chosen. Rohit fits the bill perfectly.
He is going to South Africa, but if he had not been injured, there was a good chance he would have been dropped from the eleven. He isn’t a sure-shot starter, so how can he stay the deputy? Rohit will be the obvious choice if Rahane is resigned as vice-captaincy.
Officials confirmed that he was vice-captain of the Australia Test series in two previous games.
It’s time to say goodbye to Ishant Sharma.
Ishant, who has played 105 Tests over the years, has been one the best pacers in India’s traditional format. However, the team management is now puzzled by the rapid rise of Mohammed Siraj.
Ishant’s position in the team is being questioned, as seamers such as Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami are also expected to return for South Africa. However, they have been rested for the New Zealand assignment.
Prasidh Krsna and Avesh Khan and Shardul Thakur’s versatility make him a highly lucrative option.
The selectors will also discuss Ishant’s future in India’s red-ball squad.
Three Tests and three ODIs will be held during the India tour of South Africa, which begins December 26.
